Heated die platen and die



lli`

` openings. perforations, or other means therein or Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Chaplin Corporation, South Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135,032

11 Claims.

It is frequently desirable and necessary to heat iormers and dies used lin the iinishing, drying or other treatment of moulded pulpartlcles. Individual dies may begprovidedwith electrical or other heating means; included within the Idle itself. When theslidies." are changed or discarded not only isthe die, itself, lostto useful andfgainfulfproduction, but also the heating element or means. Where a considerable number of `spare or extra dies must be maintained, much added capital is necessarily tied `up in dies, which contain both the die member, itself, and its individualheating means. r v

In addition, it is frequently necessary that these heated or drying dies be provided with therethru, to permit the escape of steam or water vapor which may be evaporated from the articles held on or between these dies.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a'universal die heating mechanism whereon dies of various shapes and kinds can be readily mounted. This die heating and mounting mechanism not only provides heat for the dies themselves, but also provides means for escape or extraction of the` water vapor fromI the dies and from any articles held or compressed by them. This enables the very simplest and most inexpensive of die construction to be used, means being provided to easily and quickly mount dies of different shapes, kinds and numbers, on a universal heating and vapor removing mechanism.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a preferred form of die heating mechanism, including one form of die mounted thereon `for purposes oi.' illustration. Thiseparticular mechanism is designed to have the dies mountedon'its bottom surface, the working die surface' facing downward.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional-yview through adie heating mechanism,shoiiiingione,form of die mounted thereon. `Thismechanism is designed to have the dies mounted on-'itsftop or upper surface with the working. surface 'ofl'the dies facing upward.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4 4, `of Fig. 1.

For purposes of illustration, itis assumed .that the die heating and mounting mechanism herein illustrated,l is to he heated by steamY or similar heat carrying vapor, which by condensation, releases its latent heat to the mechanism or structure with which it is in` contact. I` do not limit my invention `tothis particular method of heating, as it is obvious that a liquid or other similar medium can be circulated through my device adequately heating it and performing necessary functions without departing from the scope of my invention. I

Considering the sectional view of Fig. 1, the o structure consists of a casing having an upper wall or face I, a lower wall or face 2, and an enclosing wall 3, of circular or other desired shape. These enclosing walls encompass a chamber l, communication to which is made 10 by a pipe or hose connection 5. Through this pipe or hose connection may be introduced steam. or other heating vapor filling the chamber l and heating the entire mechanism. The condensed vapor may either be drawn off through l5 a separate pipe communicating with chamber 4, or preferably, drained back through the pipe and hose 5, and be thereafter separated from incoming vapor. Any air which may be in the cham- 'ber 4, escapes through pipe 8 and air vent 6-a. 20

The particular mechanism illustrated, is designed for the mounting o1' seven small individual dies, one large die or other combinations of dies. To facilitate such mounting, there is provided a plurality of chambers 'I extending 25 completely thru the chamber-'4, `the upper wall I, and the` lower wall 2. These chambers 'I have wall portions 8 so that there is no communication between chamber I, andthe interior of the chambers 1. Connecting with these chambers 'I 30 are a plurality of passages 9, these passages, in turn, communicating` with a tube or pipe Il, passing outside of the structure, itself. The lower surface 2, ,is accurately machined and nished as well as the upper surfaces of the 35 dies` Il, to be mounted thereon. To facilitate ready assembly and removal of these dies II, there is provided a bolt I2, with a threaded portion I3, adapted to t into the central threaded portion of the die l'I, said bolt having a head '40 Il. Interposed between the head I4 and top wall I, is a gasket I5, a solid washer I6, and a spring washer I1. When the die Il is rst l placed in position, the bolt I2 is screwed into the threaded part of the die at I3 and very light- 45 ly tightened. The die is then brought into cooperative relationship with its mating die or dies, and the bolt I3 having been only lightly tightened, enables the die II to move relative to surface 2, into its proper position. When the die II, has taken its proper position, bolt I2 is securely tightened by turning the head Hand the spring washer I'I isfcompressed so that the die II will be held tightly against, and in firm contact,`with the lower finished surface 2, effecting emcient and rapid heat transfer from this surface to the die II. If desired, a thin soft heat conducting sheetI can be introduced between die I I, and the surface 2, to effect an even more periect heat conductivity contact between these parts.

In order that the vapor introduced through pipe and hose E, may have ample surface contact for heat transfer purposes, a plurality of rib sections I8, are located within the chamber Il, these ribs I8 in addition, forming structural connections between the hollow sections inclosed by wall 8, the outer wall 3 and the bottom wall 2. This rib structure stifens and reinforces the lower wall 2 insuring that the iinished surface on the bottom at wall 2 stays flat and smooth. In the structure shown in Fig. l. these ribs are made a part of the lower incloslng wall 2, to add to the available surface in contact with the heated vapor and conducting the heat from this vapor to the lower wall 2, and from thence to the dies II.

To insure that there be no accumulation of condensed heating vapor at or nearI the inner surface of wall 2 or any portion of chamber 4, openings 2i are provided in the ribs I8, so that complete' drainage of any condensed vapor is possible back through pipe and hose 5. Such openingsv are necessary only in case ofthe structure shown in Fig. 1 as in Fig. 2, the portion of the die mounting mechanism 2 is at the top, and there is no possibility of accumulation of condensed vapor on the inner surface of Wall 2.

On the structure shown in Fig. 2, these ribs indicated at I8--a are located at the top of chamber d and are integral with wall 2 in contact with dies II-a., which dies cooperate with the dies II of Fig. 1. The reason for having the ribs I8 at the top of structure of Fig. 2 is the same as in the case of Fig. l, to reinforce wall 2, and to insure a rapid conduction of heat from the vapor through wall 2 tothe dies II-a. The mounting of dies II-a on the structurevshown 'in Fig. 2 is the same as that already described in connection with the dies II of Fig. l.

It has already been described that a chamber TI is provided around and about bolt I2, which chamber communicates through passages 19, with a pipe connection I0, to the outside of the structure. The lower end of the chamber 'I is slightly enlarged as indicated at I9, to facilitate communication with openings 20 in the die I I. These openings 20, communicate by means of slots, per- Iforations, holes or other openings, with that por- 'tion of the die Il in contact with the pulp article to be dried. As heat is applied to this article both through die II and die II-a, the Water of evaporation is drawn off through openings 20, up through passage 1, across through 9 and out through pipe I0. The object of having these passages entirely within, and inclosed by the die mounting structure in contact with the heated vapor in chamber 4 within this structure, is to prevent any possibility of the water vapor evaporated from the pulp article, from condensing before it has been drawn completely and entirely away from the die II. Otherwise, this moisture may condense and run back into the die, injuring the article under treatment.

The object of having the chamber 1 located about the bolt I2 is both to simplify the structure, and also to insurevthat the openings,` tothe die II, be available for inspection when the die is removed, and further, that the turning and removal of the bolt I2 automatically insures that aaoaavc the passage 1 be clear each time the die II is changed.

The water vapor from the die II drawn through holes 20 in the die, is taken directly away from the 'die and its heating and contacting wall 2, so that any additional heat which this water vapor may require to prevent condensation is not taken from the wall 2, which would tend to detract from the heat available for the die II. Rather, any necessary additional heat required by the water vapor, would be drawn from the outer wall I, which has ample heatavailable to heat the vapor passing throught, the passages therein.

It has already been stated that while seven dies are shown in the figure illustrating this device, that a single dieor some other combination of dies, between one and seven, can readily be utilized.

In case a large single article is to be made requiring a single die this would be provided with seven tapped holes corresponding in location to the location of the passage 1. Air connection in -the die would also be placed adjacent to these tapped holes, and the bolts I2, will be utilized to hold this single die in place.

While I have illustrated and selected seven openings or seven die mounting positions, this is simply for the purpose of illustration, and I do not limit my structure or invention in this par ticular or to any other combination. However, considering the structure as shown, it is obvious that other combinations of dies may be readily mounted on this structure. For instance, three dies might be mounted on this structure, by using two adjacent bolts for each die and possibly sealing the center opening with a bolt, and washer on each end. Similarly two dies might be mounted by using three adjacent bolts togetherr with a common center bolt or with the center bolt omitted.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple die mounting mechanism adapted for the mounting of individual dies or unit dies in any combination, providing within the die mounting mechanism, all heating means and all vapor extraction means. This construction permits the dies, themselves, to be made of the simplest and least expensive design eiecting considerable savings in original cost and even greater savings in operating utility.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A die heating device comprising a hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a plurality of tubes ,extending through said cham ber, means for sealing one end of each tube on one face of the casing and holding the die to the opposite face thereof, and means establishingv ber, and meanssealing the tube openings on one side of said casing and securing the die to the other side thereof, and means establishing communication between the interior of said tubes and the exterior of the hollow casing whereby water of evaporation may be drawn off from the die.v

2,206,276` 3. A die heating device comprising a hollowl casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a die mounted on one face of said casing. means for supplying a heating uid to said chamber, a`

plurality oi' tubes extending through said chamber, and bolts extending through said tubes, the

,heads of the bolts sealing the opening of said tubes on one face of the casing, and the other end of the bolt securing the die to the opposite face of the casing, and means establishing communicationbetween the interior of said tubes and the exterior of the hollow casing whereby water of evaporation maybe drawn off from the die.

4. A die heating device comprising a hollow l:casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a die Imounted on one face of said casing, means for supplying a heating uid to said chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber, and bolts extending through said tubes threaded into said die and securing same to one face of *the casing, and means at the opposite ends of` said bolts sealing the opening of the tubes on the other face of the casing, and means establishing communication between the interior of said tubes and the exterior of the hollow casing whereby water of evaporation may be drawn oil from the die.

5. A die heating device comprising a hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a die mounted on one face of said casing, means for supplying a heating uid to said chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber,

bolts extending through said tubes threaded into said die and securing same to the face oi' the casing, and a sealing and spring washer', at the opposite end of said bolts for sealing the opening of the tubes on the other face of the casing.

6. A die heating device comprising a hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber, means for sealing one end of said tubes on one face of the casing and holding the die to the opposite face thereof, heat collecting ribs within said chamber provided with openings for condensate removal, means for supplying a heating iluid to said` chamber, and venting means to permit escape ofentrained air.

'1. A die heating device comprising a. hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber, means for sealing one end of said tubes on one face of the casing'and holding the die to lthe opposite face there'oi-, tubes communicating with said first mentioned tubes providing a channel for escape of vapor from the die to the outside of the casing.

8. A die heating device comprising a hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber, means for sealing one end of said tubes on one face of the casing and holding the die to the opposite face thereof, said die being provided with slots communicating with one end of the tube through which water of evaporation is drawn off from the article being treated in the die. i

9. A `die heating device comprising a hollow casing providing a heat retaining chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through saidchamber, means for sealing one end of said tubes on one face of the casing and holding the die to Athe opposite face thereof, said die being provided with slots communicating with one end of the `tube through which water of evaporation is ber, a plurality of tubes extending through said chamber, said tubes being constructed, arranged and located to be heated by the heating medium,

`means for sealing one end of said tubes on one face of the casing, means for holding a die to the opposite face thereof, and means establishing `communication between the interior of said tubes and the exterior of the hollow casing whereby water of evaporation may be drawn off from the die `tate heat exchange from the heating medium to the device, means for sealing one end of each tube on one face of the casing, means for holding a die to the opposite yface thereof, and means establishing communication between the interior v,of said tubes and the exterior of the hollow casing whereby water of evaporation may be drawn off from the die.

MERLE P. CHAPLIN.

1.1. A die heating device comprising a hollow 

